Lock for loose-leaf ledgers, temporary binders, files, and the like.



U III) i 6 by J m w .9 ,0 M M j W 1 6 9 /M No. 802,044. PATENTED OOT. 1'7, 1905. G. HIGGINSON. LOOK FOR LOOSE LEAF LEDGERS, TEMPORARY BINDERS, FILES,

AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JU LY a, 1905 VW TNESSES:

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE HIGGINSON, OF LONDON, ENGLAND, ASSIGNOR TO THE PULMAN PATENTS COMPANY, LIMITED, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

LOCK FOR LOOSE-LEAF LEDGERS, TEMPORARY BINDERS, FILES, AND THE LIKE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. 17, 1905.

Application filed Tuly 8, 1905. Serial No. 268,787.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, GEORGE HIGGINSON, mechanical engineer, of 1 and 2 Ham Yard, Piccadilly Circus, London, England, have invented a. certain new and useful Improved Lock for Loose-Leaf Ledgers, Temporary Binders, Files, and the Like, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a lock for looseleaf ledgers, temporary binders, files, and the like, and especially to those which are operated by a sliding or screwed spindle, and has for its object to provide means to prevent access being obtained to the end of the operating-spindle of the ledger or the like by unauthorized persons.

A look made in accordance with this invention comprises a body adapted to be secured to a loose-leaf ledger or the like and provided with a hole adapted to be fitted over the end of the operating-spindle thereof, a cap or plug adapted to be fitted into said hole and overor in front of the end of said spindle, and means within said body for retaining said cap in said ho 6.

Referring now to the drawings, Figure 1 is an end elevation of one form of lock made in accordance with this invention. Fig. 2 is a plan thereof. Fig. 3 is a section on line A A, Fig. 2, with the plug removed. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal section of the plug, and Fig. 5 is an end View thereof.

a is the body adapted to be secured to a I loose-leaf ledger or the like by a lug b and provided with a hole 0, adapted to receive the spindle (Z of said ledger.

c is a plug adapted to be fitted into the hole 0 and over or in front of the end of the spindle d.

f and g are springs secured to the body a and adapted to lie in slots it and j therein and adapted to engage projections k and m on the cap a, so as to retain said cap in position.

n is a keyway cut in the body a for the purpose of inserting a key to disengage the springs f and g from the projections in and m', so that the plug 6 may be removed and the spindle d operated.

0 is a stop to limit the displacement of the springs f and 9 when the key is used. The spring 9 is of greater width than the-spring f. The projection t has a sloping face, as

shown atp in Fig. 4:, so as to cause the springs to ride up to the top of the projections as the plug is inserted, and both projections have one side curved to suit the configuration of the springs, as shown at q in Fig. 5.

The plug 0 is preferably provided with a cup-shaped piston r, spring-pressed by a spring 8, said piston being adapted to surround the squared end of the spindle d when the plug 0 is inserted. The body a is provided with a groove t, adapted to receive the projections It and m when the plug is inserted in the hole 0.

In use after the file has been closed by operating the spindle d by means of a separate key or handle the plug (2 is inserted into the hole 0, so that the projections in and m pass along the groove t. The projection in first engages the spring g, which rides up the sloping face p to the top of said projection. The interval between the projections and m is of less width than the spring 9, and consequently the interval passes under the spring,

and when said interval comes under the spring f, with which it corresponds in width, the

spring by its resiliency passes therein, and the spring g simultaneously passes behind the projeotion m, and thus the springs engaging the projections prevent the cap 6 from being withdrawn. At the same time the piston r surrounds and abuts the squared end of the spindle d and slidingin the plug e compresses the spring 8 as the plug is forced home.

To withdraw the plug, a key provided with suitable wards is inserted into the keyway n and rotated. The wards raise the springs out of engagement with the projections on the plug, which is then forced out of the hole a by the springs, compressed within the cap. The spindle dean now be operated in the usual manner.

A file provided with a lock made in accordance with this invention can only be operated by a person having a key to release the cap, and by this means security is obtained.

WVhat I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A look for preventing access to the end of the operating-spindle of loose-leaf ledgers, temporary binders, files and the like comprising a body adapted to be secured to said ledger or the like and provided with a hole adapted to be fitted over the end of said operatingspindle, a plug adapted to be fitted into said hole, and means within said body for retaining the plug in said hole.

2. A look for preventing access to the end of the operating-spindle of loose-leaf ledgers,

temporary binders, files and the like, comprising a body adapted to be secured to said ledger or the like and provided with a hole adapted to be fitted over the end of said operatingspindle, a plug adapted to be fitted into said hole and over the end of said spindle, projections on said plug, and means within said body for engaging said projections, substantially as set forth.

3. A look for preventing access to the end of the operating-spindle of loose-leaf ledger's, temporary binders, files and the like, comprising a body adapted to be secured to said ledger or the like and provided with a hole adapted to be fitted over the end of said operatingwitnesses.

GEORGE HIGGINSON. Witnesses:

ROBERT MILTON SPEARPOINT, H. D. JUvEsU. 

